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Potential risk for herpes, please help!
I was in a monogamous relationship from July 2008 to October 2009. My ex was tested clean for std's early on and neither of us have ever had any symptoms of Herpes (or anything else for that matter). I had unprotected sex with another girl about a week and a half ago. About a day and a half later she was showing her first lesion, which turned into several. Two doctors have glanced at it and are relatively certain it is herpes. Her blood test (not sure which kind) came back negative and she had a culture test done today. She was with one other person a month earlier who has no symptoms but said he was with another girl about the same time.
To complicate matters, I noticed a very tiny flesh-colored/barely red bump on the shaft of my penis on Friday night. I put Neosporin on it and it got better. It then flared up again, or one exactly like it in the same general location popped up. I decided not to put Neosporin on it since I would rather see how bad it gets and let a Dr look at it. It isn't even visible without inspecting closely and it doesn't hurt at all. I have never noticed one before, but I have also never been paranoid like I am now. This doesn't sound like Herpes to me, does anyone agree/disagree?
My questions are:
1) What are the odds I gave her herpes and she showed signs a day and a half later? Is it worth it to get a blood test now to remove some doubt? What is the best type of Dr. to go to, and which blood test should I request?
2) If she already had herpres prior to our encounter, what are the odds she passed the virus on to me if she wasn't showing, or aware of any symptoms at the time? Based on this type of encounter would I be "lucky" to escape scot-free, or do I have a high percentage chance of catching the virus?
3) Is what I am showing enough to go to the Dr right now? Based on what I've read I think it is best to wait it out and see if I get any definite symptoms of Herpes, or wait 3 months? Is there anything I can start taking now that will help my body fight off the virus or make the symptoms better once they actually do hit?
4) As long as I am not showing any symptoms, is it safe for me to resume sexual activity with others, provided I wear protection? Do I need to warn my partner? I would like to be honest, but I can't imagine telling someone without them overreacting and leaving.
5) Any other general advice, other than to practice safe sex habits, would be greatly appreciated. I've learned a huge lesson out of all this, whether or not I do get Herpes.
Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for your help!
To complicate matters, I noticed a very tiny flesh-colored/barely red bump on the shaft of my penis on Friday night. I put Neosporin on it and it got better. It then flared up again, or one exactly like it in the same general location popped up. I decided not to put Neosporin on it since I would rather see how bad it gets and let a Dr look at it. It isn't even visible without inspecting closely and it doesn't hurt at all. I have never noticed one before, but I have also never been paranoid like I am now. This doesn't sound like Herpes to me, does anyone agree/disagree?
My questions are:
1) What are the odds I gave her herpes and she showed signs a day and a half later? Is it worth it to get a blood test now to remove some doubt? What is the best type of Dr. to go to, and which blood test should I request?
2) If she already had herpres prior to our encounter, what are the odds she passed the virus on to me if she wasn't showing, or aware of any symptoms at the time? Based on this type of encounter would I be "lucky" to escape scot-free, or do I have a high percentage chance of catching the virus?
3) Is what I am showing enough to go to the Dr right now? Based on what I've read I think it is best to wait it out and see if I get any definite symptoms of Herpes, or wait 3 months? Is there anything I can start taking now that will help my body fight off the virus or make the symptoms better once they actually do hit?
4) As long as I am not showing any symptoms, is it safe for me to resume sexual activity with others, provided I wear protection? Do I need to warn my partner? I would like to be honest, but I can't imagine telling someone without them overreacting and leaving.
5) Any other general advice, other than to practice safe sex habits, would be greatly appreciated. I've learned a huge lesson out of all this, whether or not I do get Herpes.
Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for your help!
your regular doctor can order up the blood test for you. You don't even need an appointment , just call and ask them to order it because you have a partner recently diagnosed as having herpes and you need to know your status.
grace
grace
Correct. The culture test should be in soon. Once I find out the results of that I will get bloodwork done. Should I go to an STD clinic or a general practice doctor?
so she's just had a visual diagnosis at this point then?
I recommend getting the blood test done on yourself now to help her figure out if you had herpes and never knew it and gave it to her.
grace
I recommend getting the blood test done on yourself now to help her figure out if you had herpes and never knew it and gave it to her.
grace
Thank you Grace. I just know she had a blood test, I don't know which one. It came back negative within a few days if that helps narrow it down. She also had a culture test done, which should be back in the next few days.
The bump I described earlier was gone the next morning. Everything seems normal right now, so unless I show symptoms I don't think I will go get checked out until the 3 month mark. Is that ill advised? I figure if there are no external symptoms it won't show up in my blood this soon anyway. I also want to wait until the results of her culture test come back. That will confirm whether it is indeed herpes, or something else.
If you have any other input or advice I am open for suggestions. Thank you again.
The bump I described earlier was gone the next morning. Everything seems normal right now, so unless I show symptoms I don't think I will go get checked out until the 3 month mark. Is that ill advised? I figure if there are no external symptoms it won't show up in my blood this soon anyway. I also want to wait until the results of her culture test come back. That will confirm whether it is indeed herpes, or something else.
If you have any other input or advice I am open for suggestions. Thank you again.
I don't recommend neosporin in the genital area. it can be very irritating and cause more issues than you started out with.
obviously at this point you need to go and be seen. It doesn't sound like you've ever had testing for herpes so get a type specific herpes igg blood test done for starters and also get this new lesion looked at too.
Since you also had unprotected sex recently, you can get tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia now , syphilis anytime after 6 weeks post encounter and hiv anytime after 3 months.
do you know what testing this gal has had done so far?
grace
obviously at this point you need to go and be seen. It doesn't sound like you've ever had testing for herpes so get a type specific herpes igg blood test done for starters and also get this new lesion looked at too.
Since you also had unprotected sex recently, you can get tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia now , syphilis anytime after 6 weeks post encounter and hiv anytime after 3 months.
do you know what testing this gal has had done so far?
grace
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
